YETI Released a $300 Beach Chair...Is It Worth It?

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I was raised by a mother who spends at least a month every summer at the beach and married into a family of lake dwellers, so it's safe to say that relaxing by the water is part of my blood at this point. And after 30 years of frequenting just about any body of water I can get close to, I can safely say that your day will only be as good as your set up. Forget your favorite tote when headed to the beach? Absolutely not, turn the car around immediately. Worse yet, did you forget to pack your beach bag with all the essentials? Sounds like you're headed for a day of just staring at the water. And heaven forbid you forget your hat or sunscreen: you're toast (literally and figuratively).
Of course, included in those waterside essentials—right next to a great beach read and ample beverages—is a comfy spot to relax. And if you're an avid beachgoer like myself, then you know a simple towel isn't cutting it. I need a full-fledged beach chair, one that'll allow me to sit on my behind for multiple hours without once thinking about needing to get up because I'm overheated or something hurts. The waterside is no place for worries like these.
So when YETI (yep, the cooler and tumbler brand) recently debuted their first ever beach chair, I was intrigued, to say the least—especially when I saw the price tag. A good beach chair can get pricey, but $300 is easily the most expensive I've ever seen. I had to try this chair for myself.
And to answer what you're all wondering: is it worth it? Well, that depends. Read on for my in-depth review, but I'll give you a bit of a preview: this is hands-down the most comfortable beach chair I've ever sat in. In fact, I love it so much that I'm writing this review from the Hondo chair on a beach.$300.00 at amazon.com
This is a resounding yes, from every single person I've had test this chair. It sits about eight inches off the ground, according to my measurements, which is much shorter than your average camping chair (as it should be) but not as low as those beach chairs that require you to stretch your legs. I can comfortably sit with my legs upright, crossed, or stretched out in this chair.
The FlexGrid fabric is also incredibly breathable and supportive. As I'm writing this, I feel a bit of chill coming through the bottom of the mesh fabric from a slight breeze, something I've never felt with my average fabric beach chairs. The level of support is sturdy enough to where you don't feel like your sinking, but it never makes your bum sore, the goldilocks of comfortable chairs.
In my opinion, the comfortability is really where the Hondo Beach Chair shines. It's one of those you-have-to-try-it-to-believe-it kind of things. I've sat in my fair share of beach chairs, from the cheapest of the cheap to $100+, and this takes the cake for most comfortable in a landslide.
Admittedly, the Hondo chair is a little slimmer on included features than some other beach chairs. Here are the ones I really like:
Cup holder: I'm always hesitant about beach chairs with fabric cupholders. I've never met one that could hold anything heavier than a standard 16-ounce water bottle. I'm usually a stickler for chairs that come with a sturdy plastic cupholder, but those can be such a nuisance when trying to carry the chair and seem to always be in the way. The fabric cupholder on the Hondo chair has a reinforced (and substantially-sized) attachment to the chair, and the fabric is super thick. I put my 40-ounce tumbler in it and it was 100% supported.
4-Level recline: Is it just me, or have beach chair makers gotten really stingy with their recline in recent years? I swear a beach chair might have five levels of recline, but you usually only get about six-inches worth of distance from start to finish. I appreciate that the Hondo chair can go from almost fully upright to 130 degrees—not totally flat, but with a slight elevation.
Shoulder carrying strap: Any beach chair that doesn't have a carrying strap isn't worth your money, in my opinion. While a shoulder strap usually isn't my preferred carrying method (more on that later), the Hondo chair executes it excellently, making carrying this chair less of a haul and more of a stroll. The strap itself is fairly similar to the straps you see on YETI coolers, made from a super-sturdy fabric with comfortable shoulder padding.
What I think is missing:
Included gear station: The Hondo chair is compatible with the Sidekick Gear Case, but you'll have to buy it separately, which is a bit of an annoyance when you're already paying $300 for a chair. There are hooks on both arm rests for the gear case, but not having a spot to store my phone and Kindle is a huge oversight. I really wish this chair came with at least a little something considering the price.
Features that are up for debate:
Padded head rest: I'll admit, this isn't really an issue for me. While most beach chairs come with some sort of attached pillow to act as a head rest, the Hondo chair instead goes for a head hammock, with the top tilting ever so slightly backwards. Personally, I like this so much more than a head pillow pushing my head up, but some people might have different opinions on this!
I think one of the biggest selling features of YETI products is their ultra heavy-duty construction that's able to withstand just about anything thrown at it, so it's within expectation to think that this chair should hold quite a bit of weight—and it definitely does. The manufacturer claims it can hold up to 350 pounds, and while I couldn't test this exactly, I have had folks from 20 pounds (shoutout to my toddler) to 275 pounds sit in this chair, and the recommendation is a resounding yes as far as comfortability goes. No matter your size, I really think you'll find this chair incredibly relaxing and supportive.
I also think that the Hondo chair is ideal for taller folks. I'm 5'5" and the tilt of the head hammock hits my head just a tad above my neck, making it almost too high for me. I think anyone 6'+ would easily prefer this beach chair over a standard one because the head hammock would cradle their neck perfectly.
Per the YETI website, this chair comes in at just a little over 11 pounds, which is slightly on the heavier side in regards to beach chairs. I won't lie, I was pretty worried when I saw that this chair comes with a shoulder strap instead of backpack straps, though those are available for purchase separately. I really think that at least one part of your beach-day setup needs to be able to be carried like a backpack, and I usually prefer for that to be my chair.
I stand corrected though. This chair is so lightweight and easy to navigate that I think I'd prefer to carry a backpack cooler, tote, and this beach chair with the shoulder strap. Normally my main issues with chairs that have a should strap is that they don't play well with other gear I'm carrying. The chair is just too cumbersome and it's easier to put it on my backpack. But the Hondo chair has a pretty sleek silhouette and is made from such lightweight materials that I wasn't bothered carrying this on my shoulder. Consider me a convert.
Like I mentioned before, the Hondo Beach Chair just debuted earlier this year, so it hasn't been out long enough to truly test the durability, in my opinion. I'll continue reporting back here in the coming months and years to reflect how the chair has held up, but for now I can confirm that the construction of this chair seems really sturdy. The fabric is breathable but has a tight weave that I'm not worried about ripping anytime soon. I feel totally safe putting my full 40-ounce tumbler in the fabric cup holder without worrying about a rip, and the plastic armrests are thicker than your average beach chair.
The chair is made from a powder-coated aluminum, so while it's not 100% rust-proof, it stands up better to the water than any other beach chair I've seen. The beach is a tough climate, especially for metal, but I think this chair could get years of use before showing signs of wear and tear. Honestly, why don't more companies use powder-coated aluminum for their beach chair bases?
Look, I'm not going to tell you that you need to spend $300 on a chair for the one beach trip you take every two to three years. But if you're an avid beachgoer and lake rat like myself, then it's pretty good thing to splurge on. As far as I'm concerned, your day by the water is only as good as your setup, and if your ideal day includes sitting in the chair for more than an hour or two, then this is going to become your new beach bestie. The comfort level is unmatched. The mesh fabric is so breathable, supportive, and comfortable, you shouldn't have to worry about needing to get up every hour or so because your bum hurts.$40.00 at amazon.com$35.00 at yeti.com$30.00 at yeti.com$50.00 at yeti.com
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